Under cooperative purchasing, state and local government entities may purchase a variety of information technology (IT) products and services from contracts awarded under GSA's Federal Supply Schedule 70, Information Technology, as well as from contracts under the Consolidated Products and Services Schedule (CPAS) containing IT special item numbers.

Cooperative purchasing came about from a change in the law that amended the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act.  The change in the law was implemented in May of 2003.